Dor-Wood Optimist Club

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Kettering, OH
Dor-Wood Optimist Club

WHO ARE WE at Dor-Wood Optimist Club? We are the Dor-Wood Optimists and our motto is Friend of Youth. Quick wit reigns supreme! WHAT DO WE DO?

Optimist District #24 - Ohio Optimist Club #24115 Chartered - May 1, 1965

We meet at the Presidential Banquet Center in Kettering, Ohio, every Thursday at noon to enjoy good food, listen to interesting speakers and share timely information. We have the reputation of being a fun club and it is a reputation we encourage. Our club offers a release from the stress and anxiety of the work day so we co

me to the luncheon meetings to relax and enjoy each other's company while doing good work. There can never be too many adults to help children grow up straight and strong. After the family and the extended family; after the church and the school - we are there. We are a service club that helps kids by serving as role models, designing hands-on activities and sponsoring institutions with similar goals. We organize projects and programs to meet the needs of youth in Kettering and the surrounding area. THE OPTIMIST CREED:

Promise yourself -

-To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

-To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

-To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

-To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

-To think only of the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best.

-To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

-To forget mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements of the future.

-To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

-To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

-To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

- Optimist International

06/16/2026

On Saturday, June 14th, Dor-Wood Optimist Club hosted it's annual Kid's Fishing Derby at Kettering's Delco Park along with its partners the Kettering Police Department and Kettering Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts (PRCA) Department. The event was a tremendous success! The beautiful weather contributed to the following participation numbers:
337 kids (Ages groups 5-8, 9-12, and 13-16 with a few under 5 mixed in)
262 parents
plus these volunteers -
50 Dor-Wood members
4 PRCA employees
9 Kettering Schools FIshing Club members
3 Kettering Kiwanis members
4 Friends of Dor-Wood members
6 Kettering Police officers
8 Kettering Noon Optimist members

A grand total of 683 people!

The largest fish was a 28" catfish caught by a participant in the 5-8 age group. The most fish caught by one angler was 52, also by a 5-8 age group angler.

We would also like to give a huge THANK YOU to Skyline Chili of Kettering for providing hot dogs for everyone!

We look forward to next year's event and we will continue to strive to not only be "Friends of Youth", but to keep kids "Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs"!

05/21/2026

It’s that time of year again! Dor-Wood is hosting our annual fishing derby in cooperation with the Kettering Police Department and Kettering Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Arts Department on June 13th at Delco Park. Registration starts at 8:45 and fishing starts at 10:00. And then we have lunch and awards at 12:00. (Prizes for ages 5-16)

Hooked on Fishing and Not on Drugs!!!

05/08/2026

As a service club for the youth, it is truly an honor to provide grants to help make a positive impact! Thank you for sharing!

03/17/2026

On Monday, March 16th, Dor-Wood hosted the annual Tri-Star Basketball event at Fairmont's Trent Arena. Kids aged 7-12 competed in a skills competition for dribbling, passing, and shooting. Club members were assisted by players from the Fairmont Boys Basketball Team and the 2026 Ohio Division 1 STATE CHAMPION Fairmont Girls Basketball Team! I'm not sure who had the most fun...the kids, the players, or the club members! Watch for this event next year and you, too, can join in the festivities! Big Thanks also to our partners - the Fairmont Athletic Department and the City of Kettering Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department - for all of their help and sponsorship of this event!

03/02/2026

Many of us have heard about Optimist, Rotary, Kiwanis and multiple other service clubs helping in our local communities. Adults helping kids. Well, perhaps not as well known but just as impactful are a group of kids helping kids and their communities through an organization called Junior Optimist International. Formed in 1988 by Optimist International, Junior Optimist Clubs (called JOI for short) are formed and organized in many local schools for kids in elementary through High School. JOI clubs are found all across the US and internationally.

This past weekend, 80 + kids and adults met together in Kettering for the 2026 Ohio District Convention for an overnight weekend. The Great Ohio District has the largest and most active of these clubs.

The local area is very well represented in JOI. Kettering residents Abigail Stidham and Zachary Stidham both sit on the International Board of Directors. In the Ohio District newly elected officers are Governor Dani Jones (Fairmont HS), Lt Governor Hope Ennis (KMS), Secretary Ceci Spirk (Van Buren) and Treasurer Nava Detamore (Van Buren)

This two day event was entirely organized and run by the kids themselves. Speaking and learning about different ways to be of service, how to organize and be a better club, making new friends, working on a service project in conjunction with Blue Star mothers filling literally 100’s of bags of candy to bring a little joy to send to soldiers abroad….one of the multitudes of service projects these kids do in their communities.

Just listen to what these kids say about JOI…. “This is where young leaders like YOU come together to make a difference in your community and the world…..At JOI we know that young people can change the world…. We are more than just a club, we are a movement of young people from all over the world who are committed to optimism and a brighter future… Come join us and you can expect Youth Leadership Opportunities, Service Projects, Lifelong Friendships, Fun Events…. No matter where you’re from if you’re ready to lead, serve, and have fun doing it JOI is the place for you”.

Just an amazing group of young people wanting to serve and make a difference. Just one more example of where our futures are made better by young folks doing good things.

02/19/2026

Mark your calendars and bring out the kids! Dor-Wood's Tri-Star Basketball Contest FREE event for all kids ages 7-12 at Fairmont's Trent Arena! Registration starts at 6:00 with Competition at 7:00!

We hope to see you all there!

12/14/2025

Our tree lot coordinator posted this last night:

The DOR-WOOD OPTIMIST CHRISTMAS TREE SALE has officially closed for the season. We exceeded our goals even with a small remaining inventory. Our plans are to donate the left over trees to families in the district in need of a Christmas tree. Many thanks to all our Dor-Wood Optimist volunteers and Kettering Fairmont Leadership Group. Of course, thank you to the Miami Valley for believing and supporting our fantastic organization! We Are Dor-Wood Optimist and We Do Great Things!! Thank you!

KETTERING COMMUNITY, YOU ARE THE BEST!!!

12/13/2025

You're running out of time to get your Christmas tree at the Dor-Wood Optimist Club Tree Lot! Come and see us today at Stroop-Mar Plaza in front of Subway.

Address

Kettering, OH

Website

http://www.dorwood.org/

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